The 64th regular session of the National Council on Health (#NCH64) meeting was concluded yesterday, in Ado-Ekiti, on a very promising note and after five days of extensive deliberations on key matters rin the nation’s health sector.
This was made known by a post from Muhammad Ali Pate, Coordinating Minister of Health & Social Welfare, on his X social media handle on Friday. The event which took place from 13th -17th November 2023, had as its theme, ‘Building A Resilient and Inclusive Healthcare System for a Healthy Nigeria’.
According to the post by Pate, “Out of the 82 memoranda presented before it by the Permanent Secretary FMOH, Daju Kachollom mni, for consideration, the Council approved 16 memos, noted 43, and stepped down or withdrew 23 of the memoranda.”
“We are happy to see that all the approved memoranda are aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda for improved quality health outcomes, promised by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to all Nigerians, irrespective of socioeconomic status,” Pate said, adding that the Federal Ministry of Health & Social Welfare has issued a full Communiqué on the Council resolutions.
Pate also commented on the unanimous approval of policy initiatives by the council members.
“But remarkably, the unanimous approval by Council members to adopt and implement the Sector-Wide Approach policy for Nigeria’s Health Sector Renewal was resonating. This is in light of what this means for the co-creation of programmes and initiatives across the 36 States, FCT and for resource alignment with our development partners and other stakeholders.”
The 64th regular session of the National Council on Health (#NCH64) Meeting concluded today in Ado-Ekiti on a very high note after 5 days of extensive deliberations on key matters relating to the nation’s health sector.
Out of the 82 memoranda presented before it by the… pic.twitter.com/wS1PCkRjmU
— Muhammad Ali Pate (@muhammadpate) November 17, 2023
“Also exciting was the adoption of the Memo to commemorate Health Promotion Day in Nigeria for preventive healthcare advocacy and raising awareness about healthy lifestyles. Equally significant was the adoption of the NCD policy towards effective prevention and control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in all 36 States and FCT. Given our aging population dynamics, increased investments in this cohort is catalytic for producing quality health and saving Nigerian lives,” He added.
Using the social media post, Pate thanked the staff of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Executive Governor of Ekiti State, HE Mr. Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji and the people of Ekiti State, Chief Afe Babalola and Afe Babalola University and all stakeholders in Nigeria’s health sector, for their “keen participation and support in the just concluded and productive” 64th National Council on Health.
“Particularly, I appreciate the State Commissioners of Health led by Dr Banji Filani, all the development partners, Health Sector Civil Society Organizations, the Media, and a host of others who worked behind the scenes over the period. We are deeply grateful to the Kabiyesi, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe Aladesanmi III CON, the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, for his very warm reception, royal support to the health initiatives and for the extraordinary hospitality.”
“The framework to build a resilient and inclusive healthcare system for a healthy Nigeria is now laid out before us. Let us, in the same spirit of partnership, align our resources and commit to strengthening healthcare governance and access and building a skilled and motivated health human resource for the attainment of universal health coverage for all Nigerians,” Pate added.
Pate expressed optimism that when the next council meets in Borno State for the 65th NCH in 2024, council members will look back to the resolutions adopted at the 64th Council and be happy at how close they have been to achieving their goals.
SOURCE: X (@muhammadpate)
